Clarksburg's Keller succeeds in her bid for Freedom

Everything is familiar to Clarksburg native Madison Keller since she returned home from East Carolina University this winter. But it all seems different now that she is officially a professional athlete.

On March 26, Keller achieved a lifelong dream when she signed a one-year contract with the Washington Freedom, one of seven franchises in the first-year Women's Professional Soccer league.

Three days later, the Freedom kicked off their season with a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Sol in the league's inaugural game at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. More than 14,000 fans were in attendance.

The Freedom host the Chicago Red Stars at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, in the franchise's WPS home opener.

A semester away from graduating with a degree in biology, Keller left ECU in February to accept an invitation to try out with Washington. She plans to finish school in the fall.

"I've always wanted to play soccer after college," Keller said. "It was something my family and I talked about, that it wasn't the best timing, but my coaches at school were very supportive. They were like, You should go now. If you have the opportunity, take it.' Women's professional soccer in the United States is not something that happens all the time. I felt it was too good an opportunity to give up."

Keller, who graduated from St. John's Catholic Prep in Frederick in 2005, became the first Pirates alumna to earn a professional women's soccer contract. Keller started every game during her four-year college career and led a back line that ranked second in the league in goals allowed, goals against average and shutouts in 2008. She also had the ability to push forward, scoring two goals.

Also helping Keller's cause is her relationship with longtime Freedom coach Jim Gabarra, having played in the club's organization since 2004.

"[Madison] is a very technical player," said Gabarra, who has helmed the Freedom since 2000. "My experience with her is, every time I have asked her to step into a situation, no matter the level of competition, she has risen to the challenge. I have no doubt she will do just fine."

Though Keller admittedly will not garner a great amount of playing time this season, she relishes in the opportunity to train for more than 20 hours a week alongside some of the world's greatest soccer players. She is one of two Montgomery County natives to represent the nation's capital on the soccer field; midfielder/defender Joanna Lohman, 26, hails from Silver Spring.

Led by Mia Hamm, the Freedom won the third and last Women's United Soccer Association championship in 2003. The world's first professional women's soccer league folded after three seasons because of financial difficulties.

But unlike other WUSA franchises, the Freedom remained in operation. Washington has competed in the W-League, the country's premier amateur division, for the past two years.

Gabarra drafted many of those players back to his WPS team. Lori Lindsey, who has been with the Freedom since 2003, Emily Janss (2004) and two-year players Kati Jo Spisak and Alex Singer are among returning players.

They are joined by U.S. Women's National Team star forward Abby Wambach, former national team starting goalie Brianna Scurry, starting goalkeeper for the women's national team, and Japan international Homare Sawa (65 goals).

Keller said the fact that most Freedom players have competed together for three years will be a big advantage this season.

"Sometimes I am just like, How am I even here?'" she said. "I remember exactly where I was when [the U.S. won the World Cup in 1999]. I remember calling my parents like, Did you see that shot? I can't believe [Scurry] stopped that.' Now it is just like, Oh, yeah, she is our goalkeeper.'"